Luzhou, Tongchuanfu Road Administration Office, Southwest Huihui.
Due to the dangerous terrain, it was the southeastern gateway of Chengdu. In the sixth year of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty renamed the original Zizhou Road to Tongchuan Road, and Luzhou became the administrative center, and Luzhou began to prosper.
Located at the intersection of the Tuojiang River and the Yangtze River, Sichuan real estate is continuously transported to the southeast by the Yangtze River. Rice, sugar, salt, tea, Sichuan brocade, tung oil, and even war horses obtained from the tea-horse trade were all transited through Luzhou and transported to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Nanding Tower, located in the center of Luzhou City, is as famous as the Yellow Crane Tower, Yueyang Tower and Daguan Tower. Because it is a hundred feet high, gorgeously decorated, with mountains and rivers on its back, it is beautiful and charming, and it can overlook the river. It is a beautiful place for drinking in Luzhou. . The people upstairs were all wealthy businessmen, scholars and celebrities. On one side were their helplessness at losing the great land and rivers of the Central Plains. On the one hand, wine and sex are charming, but people are already drunk.
"Xiangong Li, I heard that the emperor is going to train troops in Sichuan to reorganize the military equipment. I don't know whether it is true or not?"
The thin, white scholar was dressed in a green shirt and had a flattering smile on his face.
"Master Sun, it seems that you are not listening to what is going on outside the window. You only know how to hug each other and look at the clouds and rain. Didn't you read the news in the newspaper? The emperor does not want to train troops, but is already training, and he still appoints We have attracted a lot of arrogant soldiers and generals. The Sichuan Martial Arts Hall in Chengdu Prefecture has opened, attracting a lot of dandies from Shu, and it’s very lively!”
Mr. Li was fat and fair, with a red face. He seemed to have drank a lot.
He looked at the official prostitute beside him with a lewd expression and green eyes.
"The emperor is going through all kinds of troubles, including lectures in martial arts halls and military training. This is all about resorting to military violence. It's really shocking!"
The tall and thin official at the same table has prominent cheekbones and stubborn eyes. He is either a loyal official or a cruel official.
The official prostitute next to him looked at him with a smile like a flower, and his eyes were moving, which made him feel itchy in his heart.
"Cao Tongpan, you, a dignified court official and a well-known official in Tongchuan Prefecture, are you afraid of anything?"
Li Xianggong laughed, picked up a piece of tender fish, put it into his big mouth, and talked while eating.
Mr. Sun next to him winked, and the official prostitute on the side quickly gave Li Xianggong more wine.
"The emperor is not just going to be militaristic, but something big is going to happen! The emperor has established the Sichuan Anti-Corruption Department to punish corruption. This is for our officials in Sichuan. It seems that our life will be difficult!"
Li Xianggong said something leisurely, and he looked at his words. Several officials present looked pale and seemed a little scared.
The imperial court implemented the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road. There was too much noise and too many killings, causing Sichuan to be in turmoil. Compared with before, these officials have restrained themselves a lot, but there has been no movement on Sichuan Road, and everyone has become accustomed to being extravagant and lewd.
"The emperor is so aggressive that nothing can happen without us, and I don't care. The key is that this anti-corruption department seems to be targeting us, and I feel uneasy no matter what! Wasn't Gu Song, the general judge of the Health Bureau, killed? "
Cao Tongpan picked up the wine glass with a sullen face, his hands trembling slightly.
"Gu Song was killed. Are you, the general magistrate of Luzhou Prefecture, afraid?"
Mr. Li picked up the wine glass disdainfully and sneered.
"What nonsense is anti-corruption? They want to punish us. Let's first go and see if our superiors agree! If we really want to fight against corruption, I'm afraid the whole of Sichuan will be in chaos!"
As the son-in-law of An Gongxing, the transfer envoy of Tongchuan Prefecture, he, the prefect of Suining, is not afraid of heaven or earth.
"That's right, let's see how they mess around. Who can touch the Pu family of Kuizhou Road, the An family of Guang'an Army, and the famous Wei Gao family of Pujiang? This Sichuan is still the world of our Sichuan scholar-bureaucrats!"
Cao Tongpan nodded repeatedly and raised his wine glass.
There are too many famous families in Sichuan, and they are inextricably linked to the ministers of the DPRK and China. If the imperial court wants to fight against corruption, can it turn the whole Sichuan over?
"What Xianggong Li said is true! Come, let's drink!"
All the officials were smiling happily, and the prostitutes were together. Everyone was toasting and drinking happily.
"Dear colleagues, on the occasion of the New Year's Eve, I would like to recite a poem to express my feelings for this occasion!"
Mr. Li's face turned red, he was drunk, and he spoke loudly.
"Okay, okay! Mr. Li, I'm waiting for the masterpiece, and I'm all ears!"
Everyone booed and started reciting poems and writing lyrics.
At a table outside the pavilion, Fan Zhong drank tea with his head down, listening to Fan Zhi whispering in his ear, his dark face getting darker.
Relying on these guys to govern the place and appease the people, God is really blind.
"Don't worry, uncle, everything has been figured out."
Fan Zhi returned to his seat and sat down, but Fan Zhong immediately stood up, his face as heavy as water.
"Uncle, you haven't finished eating yet!"
Fan Zhi picked up a biscuit and quickly followed.
"Leave quickly! This place stinks so much that we can't stay here for a moment!"
Fan Zhong said with a dark face as he walked.
On Luzhou City North Street, in front of the counter of "Yao Ji Silk Shop", Fan Zhi touched the silk in his hand and asked with a smile.
"Shopkeeper, the business of your shop should be good."
"It's okay, it's just barely holding on!"
The shopkeeper shook his head, looked at Fan Zhi and asked in surprise:
"Looking at your accent, Senior Official, you are from Wuzhou, right?"
"Are you from Wuzhou too? I am from Lanxi, Wuzhou."
Fan Zhi also heard the other party's accent and immediately replied in dialect.
"Master, that's such a coincidence! I'm from Wuzhou, so you and I are fellow townspeople!"
The shopkeeper smiled in surprise, speaking with an authentic Wuzhou accent. He looked at Fan Zhong and others and was extremely polite.
"All high-ranking officials are from my hometown. Look at it as you like, I will definitely give you a low price today!"
"Shopkeeper, thank you very much."
Fan Zhi smiled slightly and said softly:
"Shopkeeper, to tell you the truth, I'm here for the first time and want to do some business. Do you think it's okay?"
"Doing business? Luzhou?"
The shopkeeper shook his head, looked at the door, and whispered:
"Master, for the sake of you and my fellow countrymen, I advise you to go elsewhere and avoid coming to Luzhou."
"Shopkeeper, why is this happening? Aren't you doing a good job?"
Fan Zhi asked knowingly.
"A high-ranking official can only be described in eight words: exorbitant taxes and corrupt officials. Do you understand? Do you still dare to come?"
In front of fellow villagers, the shopkeeper was much less wary.
"Shopkeeper, even if there are corrupt officials, aren't there officials from the imperial court who will investigate? As for the excessive levies and miscellaneous taxes, hasn't the emperor already issued an order to cancel them? We just won't pay what we shouldn't pay. What's so scary about this?"
Fan Zhi continued to test.
"Master, it seems you really don't know anything!"
The shopkeeper shook his head, looked at the door of the store, and lowered his voice.
"The high-ranking officials above are bad. Where do you go to sue them? The officials protect each other. If you sue them, do you still want to continue working here?"
"The shopkeeper is that senior official. Is he so fierce?"
Fan Zhi asked pretending to be curious.
"Official, please stop asking. Since you are from the same hometown, I'm just saying this. I have to continue doing business, I'm sorry."
At this point, the shopkeeper became timid and refused to say it anymore.
"Official, please leave quickly! Who dares to touch Mr. An, the transfer envoy of Tongchuanfu Road? Stop asking around!"
The shopkeeper's eyes flickered, but Fan Zhong had a dark face and a cold smile.
"Tongchuanfu Road Transfer Envoy An Gongxing, the son of the former Sichuan pacification envoy An Bing, is he? What a great background! He will be unlucky if he meets me!"
Fan Zhong's eyes signaled that Fan Zhi and others went over and closed the store door without any explanation.
"Shopkeeper, why don't you treat me, a fellow countryman, to a cup of tea?"
Fan Zhong took out something and placed it in front of the stunned shopkeeper.
Everyone came out and were speechless for a moment. After a while, Fan Zhi sighed.
"Excessive taxation, empty pay, and a 10% tax on imported goods. This Xianggong An, a dignified transport envoy of the imperial court, has the power of grain taxation, how ruthless he is!"
Among the subordinates, some shook their heads and sighed.
"An Gongxing's son-in-law, Li Chunlei, the prefect of Suining, robbed civilian girls, openly beat civilians to death, ignored court laws, and deserves death!"
"If they want to die, just behead them once."
Fan Zhong smiled coldly, his eyes filled with coldness.
He would not let go of any officials who committed crimes.
"Uncle, An Gongxing is the transfer envoy of Tongchuan Prefecture, an important minister of the imperial court, and the son-in-law of Wei Liaoweng, the minister of the Ministry of War. His brother An Guizhong is an important member of the Sichuan envoy, and his father is the former Sichuan envoy An Bing. The influence of the An family in Sichuan is so intricate that it affects the whole body. If my uncle tells the officials about An Gongxing's corruption and dereliction of duty, it will be difficult for the officials to deal with it, and he will also offend the Wei Gao family in Sichuan. When the time comes, he will be unable to get off the tiger... Uncle must be careful. ah!"
"Be cautious? Be cautious about what?"
Fan Zhi's words made Fan Zhong stare involuntarily.
"Your salary is your salary, and the people care for you. The people are easy to abuse, but God is hard to bully. We are entrusted by the emperor to fight against corruption and clarify the administration of officials. How can we protect ourselves wisely and deceive the emperor and betray the people?"
Fan Zhong looked at everyone with burning eyes.
"Everyone, listen up. Big matters are governed by laws. If you dare to practice favoritism and violate the law knowingly, you will be punished with an extra level of crime. Not only will your future be ruined, but your family may also be harmed. It will be too late to regret it by then. !”
"My uncle taught me a lesson, and I remember it!"
Fan Zhi's face turned red and he quickly nodded in agreement.
The anti-corruption movement became "Fan Qingtian", and he also did the work of the censor. It was really a huge loss.
"Follow the teachings of your Majesty!"
Everyone was solemn and bowed together.
"Wang Ruoshui and I will stay in Luzhou and continue to collect evidence of the crimes of An Gongxing and his officials. Tomorrow morning, Fan Zhi and Kou Yuanfang will go to Chengdu Fulu Road. There is also a boiling public resentment against corrupt officials there!"
Fan Zhong's face turned darker when he thought of Sichuan officials committing crimes and colluding with each other.
"My lord, Pu Hong, the pacification envoy on Kuizhou Road, and An Gongxing, the transshipment envoy on Tongchuan Road, are all prominent families in Sichuan and have great power. We still have to be careful."
Wang Ruoshui, a member of the Anti-Corruption Department, whispered, not forgetting to look around.
"Uncle, be careful of dogs jumping over the wall. If you are pushed too hard, these people can do anything!"
Fan Zhi was also on the side, whispering to Fan Zhong.
"Don't worry! Although I am over fifty, I still want to live a few more years."
Fan Zhong nodded, his heart heavy.
When they were doing their work, they were also protected by the Imperial Guards in disguise, so they were not alone.
Having said that, the emperor is coming to Sichuan. Fortunately, he has gained something, otherwise why would he face the emperor?
As for how the emperor dealt with these corrupt officials, I guess he didn't need to worry.
